Joint and Modular Protection System

ABSTRACT

A joint is provided for connecting two or more armoured panels of a modular protection structure. The joint has an elongate body, a first channel extending along and within the elongate body, for receiving an edge of one of the armoured panels, and a second channel extending along and within the elongate body, for receiving an edge of another armoured panel. One or more armoured strike plates are provided which substantially cover an area between the edge of the armoured panel which is received within the first channel and the edge of the armoured panel which is received within the second channel. This makes it easy to join two armoured panels, for example by slotting them into the first and second channels of the joint. An armoured strike plate is provided as part of the joint to inhibit ballistic leakage through the area of the joint between the armoured panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a joint, and to a modular protection system.

2. Brief Discussion of the Related Art

In the development of ballistic protection products for the law enforcement and defence sectors a problem regarding the ballistic integrity of joints has been identified. In particular, these problems arise in modular defensive structures and emplacements which are provided as re-usable modules (kit structures/flat pack constructions). Current designs of modular ballistic protection structures/emplacements utilise mechanical fixings (nuts & bolts, brackets, etc.). Mechanical fixings can be effective but are inherently slow and time consuming to erect and dismantle, and the teams building the constructions often require specialist training and tools. Moreover, mechanical fixing and jointing solutions often have a weight penalty associated with them.

Some designs of modular erected light-weight solutions have attempted to get around the problem area by utilising methods of construction which provide ballistic protection material overlapping the jointing area in order to attempt to cover the jointing area from ballistic leaks (from directly head-on i.e. a ballistic impact from approximately 90 to 65 degrees). This method of junction is often reliant on straps and buckles to bring the ballistic protection material together and hold the closure together. Joints held together by straps and buckles are lightweight and fast to erect and dismantle but have very limited structural strength and are associated with ballistic leaks from ballistic impacts i.e. incoming rounds that approach the joint at an oblique angle. These rounds can enter through the gap in the overlap (a ballistic leak), when approaching from an angle of approximately 65 to 10 degrees.

Embodiments of the present invention seek to address these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a joint for connecting together two or more armoured panels of a modular protection structure, the joint comprising:

an elongate body;

a first channel extending along and within the elongate body, for receiving an edge of one of the armoured panels;

a second channel extending along and within the elongate body, for receiving an edge of another of the armoured panels; and

one or more armoured strike plates which substantially covers an area between the edge of the armoured panel which is received within the first channel and the edge of the armoured panel which is received within the second channel.

This structure makes it easy to join together two armoured panels, for example by slotting them into the first and second channels of the joint. Although the material from which the main body of the joint cannot itself be impermeable to gunfire, an armoured strike plate is provided as part of the joint to inhibit ballistic leakage through the area of the joint between the armoured panels. It will be appreciated that a modular protection structure formed in this way can be effective not only against ballistic threats, but also against blast threats—for example a grenade or other explosive being detonated nearby.

As result, the problem that mechanical joints require fixings that are inherently heavy, cumbersome time consuming to erect, and the problem that overlap joints are light weight but do not provide any structural support and suffer from ballistic leaks from oblique angles are addressed by providing a structural joining mechanism that has inherent ballistic protection in its own right and provides structural strength to the completed emplacement, and is quick and effective to erect and dismantle.

Preferably, the edge of an armoured panel received in the first channel is provided with an edge connection member, the edge connection member being shaped to permit it to be slotted into the first channel via an open end of the first channel, and to inhibit it from being removed laterally from the first channel. A similar edge protection member may be provided on the edge of an armoured panel received in the second channel. This facilitates easy construction of the protection structure, because slotting the edge of the armoured panels into a channel is a rapid operation which does not require tools. However, by shaping the edge connection member and channels such that the panel cannot be removed laterally from the channel (in other words, it can only be removed by sliding it out of the joint along the longitudinal axis of the joint), the resulting structure can be made solid and self-supporting. Preferably, the edge connection member is bonded to the armoured panel, for example using an adhesive. Alternatively the edge connection member may be riveted to the panel, or connected in any other way. Preferably, the first channel and the edge connection member are provided with mutually engageable formations which inhibit the edge connection member from being removed laterally from the joint. For example, the first channel may comprise a female formation for mating with a male formation of the edge connection member.

The armoured strike plate may be embedded within the elongate body, or may be fixed to the elongate body.

The joint may be constructed in a number of different configurations, depending on a desired angle between the panels. For example, the first and second channels may be arranged with respect to each other such that the armoured panels connected by the joint are in substantially the same plane. Alternatively, the first and second channels may be arranged with respect to each other such that the armoured panels connected by the joint are at a predetermined obtuse angle with respect to each other. Alternatively, the first and second channels may be arranged with respect to each other such that the armoured panels connected by the joint are at right angles with respect to each other. In the latter two cases, preferably the armoured strike plate is provided at the convex side of the join between the two armoured panels, which will generally be the outside of a modular protection structure formed using the joint.

In one example, the edge connection member and the first channel are each shaped to permit the edge connection member to rotate within the channel to permit the angle between the armoured panels connected by the joint to be adjusted. In other words, an articulated joint may be used to provide more flexibility in the shape of protection structure which can be provided, without sacrificing the ballistic protection provided by the joint. In one example of a rotating joint, the edge connection member provides a first part of a revolute joint and the first channel provides a second part of the revolute joint. The edge connection member may comprise a part-cylindrical convex formation and the first channel comprise a concave formation shaped to receive the part-cylindrical convex formation.

The joint may comprise a foot at one end of the elongate body, which rests upon the ground when the joint is part of a completed modular protection structure. The foot may comprise a fixing point for anchorage to the ground. This is particularly important where the protection structure is intended to protect against a blast, since anchoring the structure to the ground will reduce the likelihood of the structure being moved by the blast, injuring a person using the protection structure as a shelter.

The elongate body may be formed of a first material selected from pultruded or moulded polyurethane, machined nylon or a similar material. The armoured strike plate may be formed of a second material selected from steel, ceramic, laminate, alloy, composite, polyethylene, UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) or other similar ballistic protective material. It will be appreciated therefore that the material of the elongate body is different from the material of the strike plate.

The armoured strike plate should preferably be positioned such that there is no direct path through the joint and between the armoured panels which is not intercepted by the armoured strike plate.

Viewed from other aspects, the present invention also provides an armoured panel for use with a joint according to the above, and a modular ballistic protection structure comprising a plurality of armoured panels, the armoured panels being connected together by joints according to the above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following Figures in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a modular protection system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-C schematically illustrate a first type of joint according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B schematically illustrate a second type of joint according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically illustrate a third type of joint according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B schematically illustrate a fourth type of joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a modular protection system 1 is shown. The protection system of FIG. 1 is an enclosure, providing a safe refuge area inside. However, the present invention is also applicable to other structures, such as a wall, which individuals can find refuge behind. It will be understood that such a shelter may be used to provide a relatively safe place for civilians to be placed in a situation in which they would otherwise risk being hit by gunfire or blasts from explosive devices. Such a shelter could be used by the military or by law enforcement officers for example. The system 1 comprises a plurality of armoured panels 2 which are joined together by armoured joints 3. The armoured panels 2 may have various different shapes, depending on the shape of the overall structure to be formed, and in the present case are trapezoid (trapezium shaped). The armoured joints 3 are elongate members which are relatively narrow, and have a constant cross section along (most or all of) their length. The edges of the armoured panels 2 are received in channels which extend along the length of the armoured joints 3. This provides a substantially continuous armoured surface which in the present case forms a perimeter around a contained area. The system 1 can be constructed by sliding the panels 2 down into the joints 3. Both the panels 2 and the joints 3 can be readily carried and manipulated by an individual, even though the totality of the structure is too heavy and bulky to be carried by one individual. The slot-in construction technique permits the protection structure to be assembled very quickly. While it would be desirable for the joint itself to be as impervious to ballistic impacts as the panels, in practice this is very difficult to achieve because the materials which are suitable for ballistic protection cannot be readily manufactured (e.g.

extruded or pultruded) into the required shape. In order to address this problem, the joint is provided with one or more armoured strike plates, as will be explained below. It will be noted from FIG. 1 that the joints are provided with feet 4 (these need not be provided on all joints, and in fact are not used for certain applications where the structure either cannot or need not be fixed to the ground). The feet 4 comprise a fixing point (e.g. a plate with a hole in it) through which a ground anchor can be passed to fix the structure to the ground. This means that the shelter will not move in the event of an explosive blast striking the outside of the structure.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, a cross section of a joint 10 according to one embodiment is shown. The joint 10 comprises a body 12, a first channel 14 and a second channel 16. An armoured strike plate 18 is fixed to a surface of the joint 10. The armoured strike plate 18 could be riveted, bolted, welded or adhered to the joint 10, depending on the most appropriate fixing technique for the materials used. In an alternative version, the armoured strike plate 18 could be embedded within the body 12. Referring to FIG. 2B, a panel having an edge connection member 19 is shown. The edge connection member 19 is fixed to an edge of the panel 2, for example by rivets, bolts, welding or an adhesive, depending on the most appropriate fixing technique for the materials used. The first channel 14 in FIG. 2A comprises a formation 15 which is shaped to receive an end portion of the edge connection member 19. In other words, the formation 15 and the end portion of the edge connection member 19 are mutually complementary in shape and dimensions. As a result, the edge connection member 19 is able to be slid into the joint 3 from one end of the joint 3, with the end of the edge connection member 19 being constrained to slide within the complementarily shaped formation 15. Once the edge connection member 19 has been slid into engagement with the formation 15, the panel 2 is held in engagement with the joint 3 as shown in FIG. 3. This means that the panel 2 cannot be removed laterally from the joint 3—it must be slid out in a motion mirroring its method of construction. It will be seen from FIG. 3 that the first and second channels are generally dimensioned and shaped internally to match the external dimensions of the edge connection member 19, constraining the movement of the panels 2 once they are in engagement with the joint 3 so that they can neither rotate with respect to the joint, nor come out of the joint.

It can be seen from FIG. 2C that the armoured strike plate 18 protects the vulnerable area between the edge a of the panel within the first channel and the edge b of the panel within the second channel. The arrows shown in FIG. 2C illustrate some possible impact directions and positions against the panels 2 and the joint 3. While it may still be possible for projectiles to pass through the joint 3 without contacting either a panel or the armoured strike plate, the likelihood of this is dramatically reduced by virtue of the strike plate. In some examples, the armoured strike plate may be positioned such that there is no direct path through the joint and between the armoured panels which is not intercepted by the armoured strike plate.

FIGS. 2A to 2C show a joint which joins together adjacent panels at an obtuse angle with respect to each other. This is achieved by way of the arrangement of the first and second channels with respect to each other. This type of joint is suitable for constructing an encompassing structure such as that shown in FIG. 1. It will be appreciated that the armoured strike plate is provided at the convex side of the join between the two armoured panels.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a joint in which the first and second channels are arranged with respect to each other such that the armoured panels connected by the joint are in substantially the same plane is shown. This type of joint is suitable for constructing an extended wall of panels, for example to provide a barricade extending between two buildings. It will be noted that the edge connector members used with FIGS. 3A and 3B are the same as those used with FIG. 2A to 2C, such that the same panels can be used to build different structures when used with different joint types. An armoured plate 18′ overlaps the edges a′, b′ of each of the panels to reduce ballistic leakage.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a joint in which the first and second channels are arranged with respect to each other such that the armoured panels connected by the joint are at right angles with respect to each other is shown. This type of joint is suitable for constructing the corner of a rectangular barrier (straight joints as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B would be used to construct the walls of such a rectangular barrier). An armoured plate 18″ overlaps the edge a″ of one panel and the end b″ of the other panel to reduce ballistic leakage. It will be appreciated that the armoured strike plate is provided at the convex side of the joint between the two armoured panels.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a joint in which the edge connection member and the first channel are each shaped to permit the edge connection member to rotate within the channel to permit the angle between the armoured panels connected by the joint to be adjusted is shown. This provides for an articulated joint, and permits a protection structure to be constructed which can be adjusted. It will be appreciated that it may be possible to use a single joint as shown in FIG. 5A and 5B to replace the function of each of the joints of FIGS. 2 to 4. In other words, the adjustable joint of FIGS. 5A and 5B may be usable as an obtuse joint, a straight joint or a right angle joint. The edge connection member provides a first part of a revolute joint and the first channel provides a second part of the revolute joint. In this particular example the edge connection member comprises a part-cylindrical convex formation 50 and the first channel comprises a concave formation 52 shaped to receive the part-cylindrical convex formation. An armoured plate 18″' overlaps the edge a″' of one panel and the edge b″' of the other panel to reduce ballistic leakage.

In all of the above examples, the edge connector member may either extend along the full length of the edge of the armoured panel, or may extend along only a portion of the edge of the armoured panel. In either case, the cross-section of the edge connector member may be uniform and continuous, or may vary (for example so that it only engages fully with the channel at certain points).

In general terms, embodiments of the present invention provide a universal ballistic integration system which is a lightweight jointing system that comprises two element parts:

-   -   The central female unit/section-receiver.     -   The male unit/section-insert.

A single joint requires the use of a single female receiver and two male inserts. The female receiver unit incorporates a cavity area that receives the male insert unit. Both the female and male units incorporate enclosures for the integration of ballistic material (during manufacture). When the two units are mated together they form a bound joint that provides ballistic resistant protection to the area of the joint. The system does not require any tools to erect and dismantle and is designed for multiple re-use. The ballistic protection materials used to form the panels and the strike plate may be dependent on the levels of protection required. The system provides the user with a capability of rapidly joining ballistic protection (resistant) panels together in order to form a protected emplacement on land or within a maritime craft or vehicle. The armoured strike plate provides ballistic protection to the joint of the ballistic panels. The structure is easily assembled and dissembled and yet will not open (break apart) when subjected to ballistic impacts—even at the joint.

The system seeks to fill the capability gap that currently exists for joining ballistic protection panels quickly together in field conditions so as to provide ballistic resilient protection emplacements for law enforcement and military operatives.

The female and male UBIS units can be manufactured from pultruded or moulded polyurethane, machined nylon or similar material. The ballistic resilient strike face can be encapsulated or bonded into a face of the female unit, and may be manufactured from steel, ceramic, laminate, alloy, composite, polyethylene, UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) or other similar ballistic protective material.

The female and male units can be held in place (locked together) by use of dolls head or other snap/clip/rotational type of mechanism. Both the female and male units incorporate enclosures for the integration of ballistic material (during manufacture) when the two units are mated together they form a joint that provides ballistic resistant protection to the area of the joint.

The joints may be manufactured in any fixed orientation (as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4) or used in-conjunction with a rotating joint (as shown in FIG. 5.

It will be appreciated that while the above joints couple together two armoured panels, it would be possible to use the present technique to couple together three or more armoured panels, by providing additional channels in the joint. 

1. A joint for connecting together two or more armoured panels of a modular protection structure, the joint comprising: an elongate body; a first channel extending along and within the elongate body, for receiving an edge of one of the armoured panels; a second channel extending along and within the elongate body, for receiving an edge of another of the armoured panels; and one or more armoured strike plates which substantially cover an area between the edge of the armoured panel which is received within the first channel and the edge of the armoured panel which is received within the second channel.
 2. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the edge of an armoured panel received in the first channel is provided with an edge connection member, the edge connection member being shaped to permit it to be slotted into the first channel via an open end of the first channel, and to inhibit it from being removed laterally from the first channel.
 3. The joint according to claim 2, wherein the edge connection member is bonded to the armoured panel.
 4. The joint according to claim 2, wherein the first channel and the edge connection member are provided with mutually engageable formations which inhibit the edge connection member from being removed laterally from the joint.
 5. The joint according to claim 4, wherein the first channel comprises a female formation for mating with a male formation of the edge connection member.
 6. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the armoured strike plate is embedded within the elongate body.
 7. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the armoured strike plate is fixed to the elongate body.
 8. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the first and second channels are arranged with respect to each other such that the armoured panels connected by the joint are in substantially the same plane.
 9. The joint according to any claim 1, wherein the first and second channels are arranged with respect to each other such that the armoured panels connected by the joint are at a predetermined obtuse angle with respect to each other.
 10. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the first and second channels are arranged with respect to each other such that the armoured panels connected by the joint are at right angles with respect to each other.
 11. The joint according to claim 9, wherein the armoured strike plate is provided at the convex side of the joint between the two armoured panels.
 12. The joint according to claim 2, wherein the edge connection member and the first channel are each shaped to permit the edge connection member to rotate within the channel to permit the angle between the armoured panels connected by the joint to be adjusted.
 13. The joint according to claim 12, wherein the edge connection member provides a first part of a revolute joint and the first channel provides a second part of the revolute joint.
 14. The joint according to claim 12, wherein the edge connection member comprises a part-cylindrical convex formation and the first channel comprises a concave formation shaped to receive the part-cylindrical convex formation.
 15. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the joint comprises a foot at one end of the elongate body.
 16. The joint according to claim 15, wherein the foot comprises a fixing point for anchorage to the ground.
 17. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the elongate body is formed of a first material selected from pultruded or moulded polyurethane, machined nylon or a similar material.
 18. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the armoured strike plate is formed of a second material selected from steel, ceramic, laminate, alloy, composite, polyethylene, UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) or other similar ballistic protective material.
 19. The joint according to claim 1, wherein the armoured strike plate is positioned such that there is no direct path through the joint and between the armoured panels which is not intercepted by the armoured strike plate.
 20. An armoured panel for use with a joint according to claim
 1. 21. A modular ballistic protection structure comprising a plurality of armoured panels, the armoured panels being connected together by joints according to claim
 1. 22. The joint according to claim 10, wherein the armoured strike plate is provided at the convex side of the joint between the two armoured panels. 